Lake Side Cafe

05/23/2008 Posted by chicagolove08

On a recent visit to The Lakeside Cafe I was really turned off after watching the kitchen staff routinely prepare foods (sandwiches) and plates (scooping chips with bare hands and placing them on plates) using their bare hands! Isn't that a violation of health code? If I see it again, I'm calling it in. I expect utensils of gloves to be used in a public restaurant. This was a real turn-off. Great ambience. Good selection of creative dishes. Please stop putting your bare hands on the food that customers have to eat. Disgusting!

Pros: Good variety of foods

Cons: Staff uses bare hands when handling customer foods

05/05/2008 Posted by PaulReubens

The restaurant is way to far up north for my preferences, but it is worth the trip. The name Lakeside Cafe is a bit deceiving. The food and service is to good for the cheap moniker of "Cafe". The lakeside cafe is not just a cafe, its more like a fine bistro that also has the ability to educate its diners about living a healthy and forward thinking lifestyle with all of their classes they offer. Their food has gotten a lot better in the past year. This is because of their (semi) new Chef Dashia (sp?). She is a wonderful woman who really cares about her food. Most other vegetarian restaurants in the city seem to cater towards the trendy vegetarians or vegans. Lakeside cafe seems to take a more creative/almost holistic approach to food. The cafe has a more real atmosphere and good choices like the great restaurants out west, like Millennium in SF. They are not making processed food to cater to the urges of meat eaters (no fake hotdogs or crappy veggie burgers, etc) If you want great vegetarian junk food, get a veggie burger at the Weiner Circle in Lincoln Park. If you want honest food for those who truley live the lifestyle or even people that appreciate great tastes, go to the Lakeside Cafe.

Pros: Really good and unique food

Cons: To long of a drive to eat on a regular basis. No home delivery.

01/21/2008 Posted by mgobluealum

I love this restaurant and bring all of my friends here. It is such a good atmosphere and the food is really good. They have things that even non-veggies will find hearty enough and don't forget desert. I recomend the Vegetarian Gyro, but I love to order the Tao Bowl. My fav desert is the chocolate cake, but I also l like the date bar and the ginger cookie. Service is great!

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Service, Deserts

Cons: None

07/02/2007 Posted by veggieexpert

Yesterday I went to the Lake-Side-Cafe. Wow, what a place. The restaurant has a terrific design and it's only 200 yards away from the lake. I had a Veggie Chicago Polish and it tasted wonderful. As a desert I had a vegan cheese cake. It was the best cheese cake I ever had in my life, and I have had a lot of cheese cakes in my life. It's a must go.

06/30/2007 Posted by chiguyspaul

Ok, so I am soooo not a vegan! BUT this restaurant is OUT of this WORLD! The greens, pizza and DESSERTS! So BEYOND! I will definately return!

06/28/2007 Posted by nadja_m

Good food, nice atmosphere, open windows if the season allows it. I like the side walk cafe and the beach close by. One of my favorites is the portabella "chicken" -fake of course- sandwich, and the vegan deserts, also the different juices and teas. I am vegetarian myself, so I appreciate all the vegetarian choices. I do recommend it to all my friends.

Pros: organic and yummi

Cons: should be open longer

06/26/2007 Posted by naterator

This place is the best...definitely worth a try! The price is right, the food is top-notch, and a very pleasant atmosphere!

Pros: Ambience, Food, Price

Cons: ?

04/17/2007 Posted by wpiya

I had a thin crust pizza, and it was very tasty. Also a vegan cake was so delicious. I will definately return for more.